Friday, March 4, 2016

Florida Birding Spectacle Appears At Ding Darling

On the morning of 29 February, the gatekeeper at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge allowed access along Wildlife Drive precisely on schedule at 0700.

The Wood Stork above (image 1) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The presence of the potential mega rarity Great White Pelican would reward the knowledgeable and unsuspecting for a second day. The tide was rising through the late morning which nonetheless offered an enjoyable view of Roseate Spoonbills and other waders that were prolific near the first water control structure.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 2) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 3) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican, a possible escapee from a zoo or collection may otherwise be a vagrant from Asia, Europe or Africa. It was interesting to read that the pelican is definitely not an escapee from the San Diego Zoo with all of their Great White Pelicans accounted for.

The Snowy Egret above (image 4) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great Egret above (image 5) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Wood Stork above (image 6) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Wood Stork above (image 7) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great Blue Heron above (image 8) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 9) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 10) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 11) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Tricolored Heron above (image 12) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Osprey above (image 13) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron above (image 14) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 15) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Snowy Egret above (image 16) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Reddish Egret above (image 17) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 18) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 19) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 20) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The White Ibis above (image 21) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Little Blue Heron above (image 22) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Double-crested Cormorant with Ring-billed Gull above (image 23) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican and immature Little Blue Heron above (image 24) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 25) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 26) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 27) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican with Willet above (image 28) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Laughing Gull above (image 29) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 30) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Brown Pelican above (image 31) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 32) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican with Great White Pelican above (image 33) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 34) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 35) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 36) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 37) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 38) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 39) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Mottled Duck with Double-crested Cormorant above (image 40) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Double-crested Cormorant above (image 41) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The banded American White Pelican above (image 42) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with Dunlin and Ring-billed Gull above (image 43) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with Dunlin above (image 44) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with Ring-billed Gull above (image 45) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 46) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 47) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Ring-billed Gull above (image 48) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with Ring-billed Gull above (image 49) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican with Ring-billed Gull above (image 50) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The juvenile Little Blue Heron above (image 51) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican with Ring-billed Gull above (image 52) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican with Double-crested Cormorant above (image 53) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The American White Pelican above (image 54) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The juvenile White Ibis above (image 55) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 56) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Common Loon above (image 57) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 58) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican and Ring-billed Gull above (image 59) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Mottled Duck above (image 60) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Osprey above (image 61) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Osprey above (image 62) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican had made a three day run as of this writing. The rare pelican has not been seen the last couple of days, even with the effort of a Don Stokes and David McQuade boat trip in the vicinity of the Ding Darling NWR on 3/3/16.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican and Laughing Gull above (image 63) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with American White Pelican above (image 64) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican with Ring-billed Gull above (image 65) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

The Great White Pelican above (image 66) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

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The Great White Pelican above (image 67) was photographed at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in February 2016.

8 comments:

2016 is turning into the year of rarities Bob! The Great White Pelican's status surpasses the American Flamingo's (and the Broad-billed Hummer's) seen just a couple of weeks ago! I wonder if the provenance of this species will ever be accurately established....

It's unfortunate that the Great White Pelican did not linger for more than a few days so more could enjoy it, Hemant. Gail Campbell has noted that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums has accounted for all of their birds of this species at their certified facilities. Interesting. New Hampshire's first record of Tufted Duck a few days ago, not to mention the first record of Yellow-billed Loon in Massachusetts last week, offers further evidence that things appear "disturbed." I wonder if Hurricane Alex, the third record of a January tropical cyclone following the 1955 and 1938 events, has anything to do with the presence of the Great White Pelican in our American Birding Association area.

What a great year to be birding, hey?I've been waiting for your blog to come up and to see your photos of the Great White Pelican - you did not disappoint :) My favorite has to be #65 - it sent me the message of a "leap of faith" with joy - I love it!Thanks Bob

Yes, it's been a wonderful time, France. Thank you. I'm very much looking forward to exploring your Sanibel Gardens Preserve this Spring. The Great White Pelican surprised me by flying with the wind. Unusual bird behavior.

Hi Bob,I am a long time follower of your pbase galleries (rodrigoshariff) and now this blog; needless to say, all your images are amazing. I was at Wakodahatchee (Palm Beach County) last Saturday with my son and enjoyed it very much (Sora and Least Bittern among others observed); one thing I noticed for the first time is the abundance of Nonnatives - Purple Swamphens and I hope they are not negatively affecting other species or the habitat in this area. In any case, thanks for posting.Cheers

Thank you, Rodrigo. It's good to hear from you again. The Purple Swamphen, which is now called Gray-headed Swamphen with full species status being given in 2015, survived an aggressive attempt of eradication of the species after its escape into the wild in south Florida in the late 1990's. I'm not sure the extent of its potential destructive impact on native habitat or indigenous species while the swamphen appears to be spreading very quickly.